Appreciation for my work friends!

Today my coworkers threw a little baby shower for me after our staff meeting! It was so sweet, and the planner had so many cute ideas! There was a turtle theme, that was so special 🙂 I am very grateful for my work family. They have been incredibly supportive this entire time. My boss gave some kind remarks, and the staff entered a baby due date pool and decorated bibs and onesies. I had a lot of fun 🙂

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A pineapple and the most awesome birth ever!

According to Val’s iPhone app, our baby is now the size of a pineapple. That’s getting pretty big to me. Val said that she hopes that his hair does not come out “prickly.”

So yesterday we spent the entire day (8:30 AM to 5:30 PM) in our Prepared Childbirth class. I saw a real birth for the first time ever. It wasn’t a fake “made for TV or movie” birth, but the real deal. At first, I was nervous about watching it, but it turned out to be pretty amazing. They actually showed many. One in particular was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen. So as the baby was coming out, the mom giving birth in the hospital with a doctor and nurses all around her, reaches down and grabs the baby and pulls it out of herself and lays it on her chest. She pretty much just told everyone, “Get away. I got this” and then pulled it out like some super-woman. I nearly jumped up and yelled, “Did everyone just see that? Someone hit rewind! Where is the rewind button?!!” Except I probably would have said it with more colorful metaphors.

It was pure awesomeness.

50 days left!

Wow, time is moving quickly and lots of exciting things are happening. We had our first class yesterday on newborn baby care. Most of the information David and I remember reading in our books, but we did learn some new things too. The fun part was when we got to practice different ways to hold our baby. We had a floppy baby doll that felt pretty real! David has mastered the cradle hold and football hold. Next week we will learn about bathing, diapering and more!

Tomorrow is our Childbirth class (all day, yikes)! I am a little nervous but still excited to learn about all my options. I am glad we are doing it a bit early so we can practice our favorite techniques. I don’t yet know what my pain tolerance will be, so I will be taking lots of notes! Hopefully David doesn’t get too grossed out by any video they show!

Now that baby B’s furniture is in his room, we can start planning on how it will look in a few weeks with decorations and other items. I really like how cozy it already feels. I think baby and I will have lots of fun bonding in there.

Baby is doing well. He moves so much and I can tell he is bigger. I just hope he stays a reasonable size 🙂

Slowly, Baby B’s room is coming together

Two pieces of Baby B’s furniture arrived today. They delivered the crib and dresser from Buy Buy Baby today. These are the bigger pieces that we will have so the room is starting to really take form. And later, the crib converts to a toddler bed and then a regular bed. So it should last. Before we went shopping, I had no idea cribs did that these days. Slowly, but surely, his room is coming together. On Tuesday, we had the whole house cleaned professionally and the carpets in the bedrooms, including his, were steam cleaned. We are looking forward to him enjoying his new room.

Baby B's bedroom furniture

Just over 32 weeks along

On Saturday, Valerie was 32 weeks along. But we forgot to take a picture over the weekend so you get one from yesterday. We had another doctor appointment yesterday. They are every two weeks now. Baby is doing well and sizing right. We are having our house deep cleaned today and then will start having baby’s furniture delivered next week or so.

Valerie at 32 weeks

Hiccups

Valerie says that she can feel the baby hiccuping in her. I didn’t even know babies could hiccup in there. That is very cool to me. I wonder what that feels like. I can feel kicks and big movements, but she feels every little thing so maybe I am missing out. Hiccups … amazing.

Sometimes, I think the baby knows when I am trying to feel him. Valerie will say that he is moving a lot and then when I try to feel, he will stop. Sometimes he stops if I even look at her. He is toying with me.

30 weeks — Getting closer

Valerie is at 30 weeks now. When we say it like that, it seems like the due date is closing in fast. There is still a lot to do. For example, having the baby’s room cleaned (and the house while we are at it), getting his furniture delivery dates set, decorating the room, going to our many classes, and much much more. We have so much going on right now and free time has become a luxury. Baby and mommy are still doing well and that is what is important.

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Valerie after church on Sunday, March 3, 2013. I made her laugh at something.

My kid is a show-off

Baby B had quite a fun time last night. He spent about half an hour rolling, kicking, squirming and moving all over for his daddy. David was pretty entertained with how much my stomach was moving. He asked me if it ever bothers me. Truthfully, sometimes it is distracting when I am working, but I can’t be mad at my little baby exploring his world. He is still small enough where the kicks don’t hurt, but he seems to love seeing how far he can push himself out. Watching my tummy move is my new favorite show 🙂